Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro says the players appreciate Carlo Ancelotti's man-management.

Real sit clear at the top of the LaLiga table ahead of Sunday's clash with Barcelona.

Casemiro told AS: "Ancelotti is a gentleman, a gentleman. He has been in football for more than forty years and has earned all respect. Not only because of what he has won, which we could be talking about for a whole day.

"For me the best thing about Ancelotti is his ambition to want to win. Carlo is always looking for victory. And then, tactically, there are few in the world like him. He is a teacher. Also, for me, it has been an advantage to have him because he played as a defensive midfielder, and I constantly ask him about situations in the game.

"He helps me a lot. Ancelotti breathes football."